THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution urging the City Health Office (CHO) to create a community-based mental program and delivery system in the city.
The resolution was authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino.
Espino said that under Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Person, there is a need to include mental health in the public health and hospital system to render available, accessible, affordable and equitable quality mental health care and services to constituents, especially the poor, underserved and high-risk population.
He said mental health is a growing concern among youth. Problems on mental health contain not just the traditional mental disorders but the issues of the target population, susceptible to psychosocial risks caused by extreme life experiences such as disasters, near-death experiences, heinous and violent crimes, internal displacement brought about by religious and civil unrests, as well as the psychosocial matters of daily living like preserving a sense of well-being in these complicated times.
Espino noted the World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well—being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his/her community."
It also calls the attention of the public that mental health is more than just the presence of a psychiatric disorder/sickness, but more importantly, also redounds to a positive condition of one's mental well-being.
Espino said mental health programs should realize the significance of community efforts with multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary participation. Such programs must take into consideration the promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative aspects of medical attention.
He said patient care continues beyond institutional facilities, which must be made available in health centers and homes. Relevant care activities and interventions must be done closest to where the need or the patient is.
He added in Bacolod City in particular and the Philippines in general, mental health services are clearly lacking and both the human and financial resources are still inadequate.